Madelyn Sheaffer, a 43-year-old woman from Independence, Missouri, recently experienced an incident of discrimination at the Adventure Oasis Water Park.
The full-figured mother claims that she was asked to leave the community pool because her two-piece string bikini was deemed inappropriate by staff members.
Did this mom face discrimination for her body type?
Sheaffer allegedly went to the park with four family members and upon entering the pool with her niece and nephew, she said she was approached by pool staff, who told her to put on shorts because her bottoms were too small.
When a supervisor came over, Sheaffer was further informed that even her top was deemed too small as well.
Sheaffer then asked to speak with a manager but instead of addressing her concerns about being discriminated against due to age or body size, she was ordered to cover up or leave the park entirely.
“I am a 43-year-old woman who did not have the confidence — or the body — to put on a bikini until [I] was 40 years old,” Sheaffer explained in response. “I will not be discriminated against because I look too good in one.”
When police were called over Sheaffer’s request for filing a complaint against Adventure Oasis Water Park’s discriminatory policies towards women of different sizes and ages, officers escorted Sheffer off the premises while expressing their sympathies and disapproval of such practices.
Officials at Adventure Oasis had no comments regarding this incident however it is ultimately up to managers’ discretion of attire deemed appropriate for patrons visiting their place.
The full figured mom in question feels differently than what the city of Independence believes – that she faced discrimination due to both age and body size as other girls half her age wearing similar sized bikinis were not singled out.
To make matters worse, after putting in seven years of hard work into losing weight and keeping it off (beginning at 255 pounds weighing 170 when this happened), Madelyn felt embarrassed yet determined not let anyone shame her over something as trivial as clothing choice.
